Linux distributions in recent years have made great strides in automating ease of use. Here's how to set up a Verizon Wireless Novatel USB-727 "stick" modem in Intrepid.
Click the Network Manager icon at top-right on the screen. The "Auto eth0" line means that the system is set up to automatically detect Internet connections at the Ethernet port.
But look what happens a minute after the USB modem is inserted.
It's offering "Auto Mobile Broadband (CDMA)." To start the Internet connection, click the line. A little spinner will show, and you'll soon get a notification that the device is connected.
One important caveat is you must do the initial connection and setup of the modem's programming using a Windows PC. After doing that, the programming is resident in the modem. This means that users of Intrepid don't have to mess with PPP, setting up a dialer, username, number, and password. However, the flip side of this is that you should occassionally connect from a Windows PC in order to send coverage and other updates to the modem.
I set this same modem up under openSuse 11.1, and it was a traditional affair involving setting up a dialer and entering all the information about the connection. This took some study and some forum traipsing. In Ubuntu, however, it just worked.
Ubuntu promotes itself as "Linux for human beings." This human being appreciates the ease with which Ubuntu 8.10 handles a wireless cellular modem.
I'll be writing about my experiences as I come up to speed with Ubuntu 8.10 and start using it for more of my daily computing tasks. You can expect me to share any tips or cool how-tos I discover. Thanks for visiting, and pleased stay tuned to our Linux Channel.
Lamar
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Lamar Stonecypher
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Linux Platform Blog
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Feb 5 2009, 08:17 PM